Shane Warne career timeline pre-2000

September 13, 1969 - Born in Melbourne.

1990 - Released from Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide for disciplinary reasons.

January 1992 - Makes Test debut as a 22-year-old against India. In two Tests against India his overall figures were 1 for 228, and the gamble by the Australian selectors on the young Warne looked to have backfired. Rod Marsh invites him to return to the Academy and his career is transformed after linking up with the coach Terry Jenner, who becomes his mentor.

August 1992 - Picked for short tour of Sri Lanka. After quiet start to first Test in Colombo, takes 3 for 11 from 5.1 overs in the second innings as Australia conjure a dramatic victory against the odds. This first significant success at Test level sounds a warning to the rest of the world.

June 1993 - After bagging 17 wickets in three Tests against New Zealand, he bamboozles Mike Gatting with his first ball in an Ashes Test at Old Trafford. It's labelled the "Ball of the Century'' and a superstar has arrived, with a Warne-inspired Australia completing an emphatic Ashes victory.

December 1993 - Takes 7 for 52 against West Indies in Melbourne.

Warne's behaviour has often been unusual for an elite athlete © Getty Images

January 1994 - Fined by the ICC after he lets rip at the departing Darryl Cullinan in a match against South Africa.

1994 - Leading wicket-taker in all three series he played in, rounding off the campaign with a hat-trick against England in Melbourne to help Australia retain the Ashes. Also takes 8 for 71 at Brisbane to ensure victory after Mark Taylor had decided not to enforce the follow-on. He is named Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 1994.

1995 - Mark Waugh and Warne were fined by the then ACB, now Cricket Australia, after admitting they supplied match information to an Indian bookmaker. The ACB covered up the scandal, but the media exposed it three years later.

1996 - Plagued by injury, and after receiving treatment on his shoulder, he requires surgery on his major spinning finger, causing him to miss a short tour of India. Worries surface - will he be the same on his return?

Warne and Mark Waugh face the media after the betting revelations © Getty Images

August 1997 - ...Yes he will. He takes 24 wickets and scores 188 useful runs while Australia come back from the disappointment of losing the first Test to retain the Ashes in England. Shows his delight with his famous victory dance at Trent Bridge, wiggling his hips and brandishing a stump on the dressing room balcony.

July 1998 - Told by surgeons he might never play cricket again after an operation on his troublesome shoulder.

April 1999 - After returning from a broken finger in the final Ashes Test of 1998-99, he is dropped for the last game in West Indies as the selectors prefer Stuart MacGill. It was the only time they felt that way.

June 1999 - Named Man of the Match in Australia's World Cup final victory over Pakistan at Lord's. He considered retiring during the tournament but stays on and on.